ArtSpace Gallery & Matching Challenge Grant Update

This past Friday was the opening night of our ArtSpace Gallery, a story installation piece written and illustrated by the STARS! They brought their work to life beautifully with so much color, creativity, and talent! We are so grateful for everyone who joined us at the opening (pictured below), but if you weren’t able to make it then, there’s still plenty of time to see the exhibit! It will be available through March 8, located in the Crossings at 303 E. Front St. in Wheaton, on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12-2 p.m., as well as after the evening service on Sundays. We hope you can stop by!

Click through this slideshow to view photos of the exhibit!

Additionally, we wanted to thank you all once again for your generous donations to our latest Matching Challenge Grant. Through your partnership with us, we were able to fully achieve our challenge goal of $80,000! We are praising the Lord for this outcome and his continued provision, and look forward to seeing how he works in the year ahead. 

In Christ,

STARS Family Services

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” –Psalm 118:1

Christmas Greetings from STARS Family Services

December 24, 2023

Dear Friends,

The holiday season is here, and I’d like to sincerely wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. May your heart & home be filled with peace & joy this Christmas and holiday season. It is my prayer that you all have a successful and healthy 2024 ahead of you. 

I want to also take a moment to reflect gratefully on the past year—all of this year’s achievements experienced and celebrated by each STAR would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment from you, our staff, in collaboration with our families and partners.

It is in this spirit of joy and peace that I say thank you for such a wonderful year and encourage us all to look ahead at the amazing opportunities God will provide in the new year! Please be sure to celebrate this joyous time with your family and friends.  

Have a wonderful Christmas with peace, love, and blessings to you and your family in 2024!

In Christ,

Sharon Coutryer

Executive Director

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart."

--Helen Keller

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Matching Challenge Grant so far: $62,090

Dollars still to go: $17,910 to meet the full $80,000 challenge grant.

UPDATE on the Matching Challenge Grant

December 12, 2023

Dear Friends,

For this year’s Matching Challenge Grant 2023, we shared how your continued love and support helps us provide residential supports and life-changing experiences for the STARS, through vocational training programs, a much in-demand art studio, active community and church life, and our three wonderful homes.

Supporters like you responded in a great way these past few days, and we are so grateful. It is amazing and humbling to see so much generosity from those who believe in our ministry on behalf of STARS Family Services and their families. I am grateful to report that we have reached $31,095 of our $80,000 matching challenge grant.

If you were one of the many who contributed, thank you for your gift. If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time! Make your gift today. Click on the website where it says “donate.” And pray with us that we can reach the full goal by midnight on December 31.

With your generosity, STARS Family Services will continue to give home and hope to families with a member with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Your gift will be specifically used to invest in our daily operations, support, and expand programs and most importantly, impact the lives of those we serve.

God bless you. May your Christmas be blessed.

Sharon Coutryer

STARS Family Services

Our Biggest Matching Challenge Grant Ever

Announcing Our Biggest Matching Challenge Grant Ever

Our hearts are full of gratitude for you again this year as you continue to come alongside this ministry organization and love and support our STARS, our staff and all those in this community that benefit from the-Spirit-filled work of God at SFS. This work is only possible when God’s people come together. So, thank you!

This year two donors have stepped up with the biggest matching challenge grant in SFS history. And now, we need the rest of this community to be sure we don’t miss this opportunity by investing in the daily care for our residents; on-going vocational training; and residential support and staffing within our three beautiful houses that our residents call home. 

Additionally, the Stars Family Services Art Studio continues to grow and richly impact those budding artists who participate. Your support will allow us to further enhance the art studio and see more works of art be produced while STARS experience joy, confidence, new skills and community in a real, transformational way.

Remember, your partnership with SFS provides our residents and their families with housing, jobs and job coaching and a church community, all with dignity and hope! Please consider helping us now (prior to Dec 31, 2023) so we can continue this work well and receive the full generous match of $80,000. Praise God!

Click on the video at the top of this email and scroll down to see our photos--what a joy to help our STARS. Thank you for your support and love. Whether this is your first time with us, or you’ve been partners with us from the beginning, we are grateful and thanking God for each of you.

Have a blessed Christmas season.

Sincerely,

Tony DiLeonardi

Board President

STARS Family Services

SFS Art Studio Opening at ArtSpace

Our Art Studio is opening a mini-exhibit Friday, August 11, 7-9 p.m. Come and see “A Day in The Life'' featuring our studio artists’ talent. You'll see the various elements of what makes SFS’s art studio so special. Don’t miss it. There will be creative crafts and artistic items available for purchase. The ArtSpace Gallery is located on the east side of the old Toms Price building in College Church’s Crossings--303 East Front Street in downtown Wheaton.

STARS Family Services welcomes new executive director

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sharon Coutryer, our new Executive Director, to STARS Family Services. Sharon has a wealth of experience with members of the Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled field, years of leadership in community operations, large and small, state licensed and independent, and a wonderful faith in Jesus.

Additionally, Dr. Coutryer brings:

• Over 15 years management and quality enhancement experience with a proven track record as a strong, collaborative internal manager and external representative of an organization.

• A proven measurement, analytics, and tracking proficiency to ensure that problems are clearly explained and steps toward resolution are documented and executed.

• A solid record for facilitating cooperative partnerships with residents, staff, and external stakeholders.

“Dr. Sharon Coutryer is a proven leader in the field of developmental disabilities," said Inman White, CEO Community Healthcore. “She has a life-long commitment to supporting people with disabilities and their families; a strong belief that people should fully participate in community life, and the skill to manage large and small community service operations to achieve that outcome."

Sharon currently sits on the board of directors for Outreach Community Center in Carol Stream, The Carlton Center in Carol Stream and is a member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the ARC.

We thank God for bringing Sharon to us, and look forward to her leadership in the days ahead.

Golf for the STARS

Be a part of our first-ever Golf for the STARS event. Registration is now open and includes green fees, cart, Chick-Fil-A lunch and cash bar. Come and support our residents.

Date: September 25, 2023

Location: Cantigny Golf

Enjoy golf at Cantigny’s public course with a private club feel. Proceeds benefit STARS Family Services residential and life-skills programs for adults with intellectual disabilities. Awards and hole contest included.

11:00 a.m.: Practice Range Opens

12:00 p.m.: Chick-Fil-A Lunch

1:00 p.m.: Shotgun Start 

Single: $175

Twosome: $350

Foursome: $600

Contact Jack O'Connor for details and information on event sponsorship. We have a limited number of spots, so sign up today. Click the button to register now

A word from Tony DiLeonardi, chairman of STARS Family Services board of directors

Out of an abundance of gratitude for Angela Killian as executive director of SFS, I am writing with the news of Angela’s retirement from this role. She has served SFS well for more than three years and will stay active in the organization as a consultant. 

“I am profoundly delighted with the level of care, growth and stability that Angela has brought to SFS,” said board president Tony DiLeonardi. "Shortly after Angela started as executive director, she guided us safely through COVID and brought on new policies, practices and guidance that empowered and supported staff, and created a new focus on our residents’ personal growth. We are better today on every metric we mange in this ministry."

Additionally, Angela has helped SFS:

• Mature the organization for long-term sustainability through an organizational redesign.

• Focus on our residents’ personal growth with new day programming, the Art Studio, and expansion of the Partner Program (job coaching.

• Develop TEAM SFS--a Community of Caring--a collaboration of staff, STARS and families.

• Renew a primary focus on safety and quality, implementing COVID policies specific to the high-risk SFS resident community, staff mandatory education (including CPR) to maintain safety readiness and to prepare staff to work with SFS residents and the STARS community.

• Foster community relations by expanding our internship program and creating relationships with local academic programs for occupational therapy and nursing—investing in the future generation of caregivers to support the intellectual/developmental disability community.

Join us in thanking Angela and Scott Killian for their service, and please pray with the board of directors and the search committee for the next executive director of SFS.  We are trusting God in this process.

You can see the job description here. Pray with us for God to guide us to our next executive director.

Prayer for the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023

PDear Father, we thank you for bringing us safely through another year here at STARS Family Services.

Thank you that we shed our masks and were able to return to work this year.

Thank you for the STARS Resale Shop and the Twice is Nice Resale Shop.

Thank you for the team of people who work at STARS Family Services, each one sharing life with our residents.

Thank you for every resident and every family.

Thank you for those who were able to find respite with us.

Thank you for the first ever Art Show and for how you make each one of us creative in our own unique way.

Thank you for church and Jesus.

Thank you for food.

Thank you for tulips.

Thank you for the firepit.

Thank you for warm houses on cold winter nights.

Thank you for Run for the STARS.

Thank you for cool houses in the heat of summer.

Thank you for summer camps.

Thank you for pumpkins.

Thank you for birthdays.

Thank you for all the friends we have at STARS Family Services.

Thank you that we can't stop saying thank you.

In Jesus's name, amen.

Coleman Matching Gift Opportunity Now Underway

November 2022: Coleman Matching Gift Opportunity

November is the month of Thanksgiving and also the month of opportunity for us here at STARS Family Services. 

There are many reasons for us to give thanks to God.

We give thanks for our residents and their families and the larger STARS community. We praise God for our talented and gifted staff and board. We are also thankful for the team of generous volunteers and student interns who help us. We are grateful for the STARS Resale Shop and Twice is Nice Resale Shop that provide places for our STARS to work. We are grateful, too, for the people who shop at STARS Resale and the funds that come to us from those sales. And we give thanks for expanded Art Studio classes and day programs so we can serve even more STARS and families.

We also give thanks for the Coleman Foundation that has given STARS Family Services a threshold matching grant challenge of $12,500. This is the opportunity we face at this time. In order to receive the full grant, we need to have 50 people give gifts of $250 or more by December 15. We are reaching out to you to consider being one of those 50 people. You may give by mail or online—it only has to be a gift of at least $250 to qualify. 

Prayerfully consider being one of the 50 people to give qualifying fits this month so we can get the full match. Your gift of $250 or more will be matched with a gift of $250 from the Coleman Foundation. Thank you for helping with whatever gift you can give.

We also want to give to you our heartfelt holiday greetings—Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.

Angela Killian, Executive Director

Tony DiLeonardi, Board of Directors President

Art Studio--see the studio and our artists at work

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Thanks to everyone who helped prepare for the WildWoods Art Show. Here’s a video look at our artists.

Wild Woods Art Show: New Dates Set!

Exciting things are happening in the Art Studio program! We are quickly approaching our Art Exhibition, scheduled for August 19-20. While we were disappointed to have to reschedule the show back in April, the STARs involved in the Art Studio have taken this opportunity to create even more artwork to show, and we are so proud of what they have created. We would love to tell you a little bit about what we’ve been busy with this summer! 

In Art Studio, we love to incorporate many different artistic and educational lenses to our projects. This week, we went to outer space! The residents viewed photographs produced by the James Webb Space telescope, and created their own drawings based on the colors and shapes that they found. Our residents have also been busy with their star sculptures, which you will be able to see at our Art Show!

About our Art Show: This art exhibition, entitled The Wild Woods, gives you glimpses into the imagination and creativity of our residents. The main body of work is an installation piece that forms an immersive, wooded land filled with whimsical animals, plants, and more. We hope that stepping into this beautiful space gives you a renewed appreciation for each diverse season of life.

The art show takes place at College Church (on the tunnel level of the Commons buildings) August 19-20:

• Friday (opening night) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

• Saturday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

The Wild Woods Art Show Postoned

Wild Woods Art Show, Friday, April 29, 7-9PM, Saturday, April 30, 10AM-3PM, College Church C005

See Our Arts Ministry Up Close! 

RESCHEDULED: We regret to report that the art show needs to be postponed due to an outbreak of Covid in the SFS community. We look forward to presenting this soon.

This spring, STARS Family Services is busier than ever getting ready for the art show.  Residents are busy working on their art pieces and contributions to the show. Make plans to attend our first-ever Art Show. It’s called “Wild Woods,” and will be coming to College Church in the Commons building, room C005—we will post rescheduled dates as soon as we can.

“The art show is going to be set up so people will be able to experience the colors and textures of our STARS artists as they express their creativity through art,” explains SFS executive director Angela Killian. “Some of the artists will be on-site so you can meet meet them as well as other art team members.”

Come enjoy this delightful event and an eye-opening demonstration of the creativity and spirit of some of our residents. 

Two generous donors have agreed to challenge gifts amounting to $100,000 to encourage people to give at this important time. If we all rise to that challenge, that would mean total giving of $200,000 in spring/summer. You can give now and be a part of supporting STARS Family Services programs through our Season of Life Challenge! The art show is free for everyone, but there will be an opportunity to donate as part of the spring/summer challenge grant.

Season of Life

March 2022

Dear Friends,

This spring, STARS Family Services is busier than ever. I am so thrilled with the way things are coming together for a spring and summer like no other--both in what new opportunities we are providing our residents and what more we are doing for the greater disability community throughout DuPage County.

Two generous donors have agreed to challenge gifts amounting to $100,000 to encourage people to give at this important time. If we all rise to that challenge, that would mean total giving of $200,000 in spring/summer. Fantastic! And that can start now.

So let me tell you why this is such a great time to support our SFS ministries and families. As we head into spring, we are really focusing our efforts so that SFS can both serve more of the STARS community and also provide a deeper level of ministry for our residents.

Our Arts Ministry. We’ve been talking about our art studio, and it continues to be a place of surprise and discovery. We see great potential for STARS to benefit from the art studio. We are growing this area so that more STARS can participate.

Make plans to attend our first ever Art Show! It’s called “Wild Woods” and will be open the evening April 29 7-9 p.m. and April 30 10 a.m. 3 p.m. at College Church. Come enjoy a delightful event and an eye-opening demonstration of the creativity and spirit of some of our residents. Put it in your calendar and plan to attend. We will be sending out more information soon!

And we aren’t stopping with visual art only. We are beginning to explore the development of programs with a focus on music as well.

Respite Care. Many STARS families aren’t ready for SFS residency, but a break would nice. That’s why we are formalizing enhanced Respite Care services for the larger STARS community. We are working to better accommodate individualized short-term residential stays. The initial response has been positive.

The parents of one STAR who recently had a respite stay at one of the SFS homes shared, “Our daughter was so happy and welcomed. She connected so well the whole staff. She wanted to continue at the art studio and return to have time with everyone. God has provided more than we could ever ask or think by providing a respite home for our daughter. Thank you all so much.”

Deeper Community. The past year has been a time when we have had to think on our feet. With the changing dynamics of vaccines, masks, and health concerns, in many ways the SFS community has helped us to bring together residents from all our homes and others in the STARS community in new ways. Weekday Community Time is filled with games, singing and crafts. SFS families and team members have been enjoying making memories with our residents during recent Snow Days, Super Bowl Parties, Bingo, and movie nights.

Your faithful prayers and support helped us make it through the pandemic. Now, as we move into spring, we look forward to a new life-giving season at STARS Family Services and we invite you to join us at this special turning point.

Will you help us reach the full challenge grant with a special gift this spring? You can give now by clicking the donate tab in the top right here on our website. You can also send us your gift by mail or give through out website.

And remember to come to our Art Show this spring!

Angela Killian

Executive Director, STARS Family Services

Pray with us:

• Give thanks with us to God for the generosity of the challenge grant and that God would provide the full $200,000.

• Pray for the upcoming art show, that God would guide us in preparing for it, that residents would feel both affirmed and excited for this first-ever experience.

• Pray for the respite care efforts, that many would find rest, refreshment and blessing through the short-terms stay options at SFS

• Pray for God to help us as we plan for summer ministries and developments..

• Ask God to provide or our financial needs, that he would use SFS to care for STARS families, residents and respite care participants.

November Opportunity

November 2021

Dear Friends of STARS Family Services,

The fall season at STARS Family Services (SFS) is starting off busier than ever, and winter is coming faster than it seems possible, but as we think about how we began the year, in COVID-19 shutdown, we are amazed. So many good things are happening since we reopened the doors. Of course one of the greatest joys was welcoming our residents back into the homes. This has been a special time where we have been able to spread our wings in new areas. Here are a few developments we are excited about and want to share with you.

SFS has begun piloting a day program at Kenny’s Home where STARS can come and spend time during the day and provide needed respite care for other family members. This expands the use of our homes beyond the residents to the greater STARS community. We are taking steps, so your prayer is appreciated as we explore this new way to provide care and support. 

We are working to expand the Partner Program so that we can provide job training and support for a growing number of people in the STARS community. The STARS Resale Shop and Twice is Nice stores are at the forefront of this, and the new space at SRS opens up new possibilities. 

The Art Studio has been a great new addition. This summer and early fall we had some mini exhibits of art that are being received well. We are investigating future exhibits and ways that we can use the positive impact of art in the lives of more of our STARS. You’ll definitely be seeing more from this area. 

There is more exciting news to share—and we could use some help with this one. The Coleman Foundation has made STARS Family Services eligible for up to $12,500 as part of their Thresholds Matching Grant program. We will receive that full amount provided 50 supporters give gifts of $250 or greater. We ask you to consider being one of those 50 donors. You can give your gift online or by mail. As long as it is $250 or greater, it will qualify for the match. The gift also must be given during the month of November. 

So there is both a threshold of $250, and a deadline of November 30 by which SFS must receive the matching gifts. We ask for you to pray that people will respond and give generously so that STARS Family Services will receive the full match. 

We are thankful for all donors and welcome gifts of any size at any time, but we wanted to be sure to make everyone aware of this special giving opportunity in November. We also ask for your prayers as we continue to hire new workers and expand the pilot and partner programs and grow the art studio. 

Thank you for your prayerful consideration. 

Angela Killian,  executive director

Tony DiLeonardi, board of directors president

Summer Opportunities

Artists at work!

Summer 2021 Opportunity for STARS Family Services

As we emerge from the pandemic to more normal lives, we have an opportunity before us that couldn’t come at a better time.

You have probably noticed how emerging and reopening from the pandemic accelerated dramatically, and we now have current needs with which you might be able to help us. There are three areas: a practical need, a beautiful need and a vocational need for which we need immediate funding. We have been given a matching gift that could double your gift dollar-for-dollar at this new season of live ministry at STARS Family Services.

We are calling this the Expanding Horizons Summer 2021 project. We chose that name because what we do this summer will lay the foundation for growth and greater ministry in the months and years ahead.

The Practical: We need new back-up generators, one for each of our homes. Summer is the best time to purchase and install them. We want to get these done now before storms cause power outages.

The Beautiful: Our Art Studio project. As we innovated during the pandemic, we developed an Art Studio for the STARS when they were not able to work at their jobs or go to their scheduled community programs. As we brought together all the residents to create art, we saw blessings in their social interactions as well as their ability to express themselves through art. STARS appreciate beauty and take special joy in forming amazing works of art. Funds for staffing, supplies and support for residents and the larger STARS community would truly begin to build a new horizon to expand SFS programming. We are growing the Art Studio in the weeks ahead as funds become available. The STARS beautifully express themselves through their Art Studio projects.

The Vocational: Job coaching takes on a new level of priority as residents and community STARS return to work. With STARS Resale Shop’s new location coming, we anticipate additional positions for STARS to be available within our Partner Program. We will need to add new job coaching staff to support each STAR for vocational success. We are also exploring options to expand our job-related training and activities for our STARS, as well as developing new job opportunities for STARS.

This is an incredible summer of opportunity, so we are writing to ask for your partnership with us at this time. Our goal is to raise $100,000 toward these summer projects.

An anonymous donor has generously pledged to match dollar for dollar every gift for the Expanding Horizons Summer 2021 project (up to a total amount of $50,000). So every dollar you give to help us reach the goal will be doubled.

Will you prayerfully consider what part you might be able to play in helping us during this wonderful time in the life of STARS Family Services?

Thank you for your help.

Angela Killian, executive director

Tony DiLeonardi, president, board of directors

Change That's Good

Two of our board members have taken on some exciting roles.

Tony DiLeonardi is the new president of STARS Family Services. We are grateful for the good and faithful service of Tom Paulsen, who remains on the board even as he seeks a seat on the District 200 school board.

“I am excited to serve as president of STARS Family Services in this next season,” says Tony.  “My time on the board has been a privilege and a joy thus far and I look forward to being more involved and meeting more of our residents’ families and dedicated staff. These are exciting and challenging times for STARS Family Services.  I am honored to be part of this organization and labor alongside each of you as we seek to reflect our Savior!”

Which leads to our second big change, but I’ll let Tony share this news with you.

“I am pleased to announce,” says Tony, “that the board approved hiring Angela Killian as executive director of SFS, effective March 1, 2021. The board has been contemplating the need for this role for several years.  Now is the time.

“Angela comes to this new role highly qualified and experienced. She has a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, a master’s degree in healthcare administration, and has worked in many healthcare related positions. Most recently she was vice president of operations for Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. We thank God for placing Angela in SFS at this time.”

We will be hearing more from Angela in the months ahead. For now, be assured that she has hit the ground running.

Though this is a new role for her at SFS, Angela is no stranger to us. She began volunteering in 2019 and joined the board in 2020. As far as the board is concerned, God brought her to us just in time. She applied her experience and expertise to the many challenges that came more or less overnight to us with the COVID-19 pandemic. She helped create protocols and processes we never dreamed we would need.

Good Changes Coming for STARS Resale Shop

Good Changes are coming for STARS Resale Shop (SRS) as well. With a new logo, and a new location coming in the summer, the store will have more room than ever to display and sell. The changes even got the attention of the Daily Herald. You can see their story here. All net proceeds from the SRS helps fund STARS Family Services. You can help by donating and shopping there. Find out details at their website, and watch for exciting updates in the weeks ahead. How many of the people below can you recognize from the wall-breaking time recently held in the new SRS location?

Prayer and Praise for April 2021

How to pray for SFS this month:

• Continued health and wellness of all STARS, SFS staff and family members.

• Smooth Partner Program reopening in both STARS Resale Shop and Twice is Nice on April 5.

• Filling the open Community Builder position at Washington House.

• Wisdom and guidance as SFS considers new programming opportunities (Respite Program, Community Programming).

Praise God with us:

• To date, we have not had a positive COVID-19 case within any of the SFS homes (residents and staff).

• As of the end of March, 40+ residents, staff and primary family members will be fully vaccinated.

• SFS staff and family have done a wonderful job of following through with all of the SFS COVID-19 safety protocols.

• Outside activities that residents participate in are starting to resume programming.

• SFS team members have done an excellent job of providing activities for the resident STARS during the times when outside activities have not been available.

November Update and Challenge Update: still time to double your gift!

Thirty Down and Twenty to Go!

Your $250 donation can become $500 by December 1.

With one week to go, we are in need of 20 additional gifts to meet our full challenge grant.

Here are the details:

• Every gift of $250 or more will be eligible for a $250 matching gift from the Coleman Foundation.

• You can give online here or by mailing your gift to us at P. O. Box 1388, Wheaton, IL 60187.

• One match per person, so if you’ve already given, invite someone to join us!

Thanks for helping us reach the challenge grant goal. By working together, we can reach the full goal of $12,500 matched for a total of $25,000 for STARS Family Services!

Update from the Homes

With Governor Pritzker’s latest mitigation efforts, residents at all three homes are not working at the resale shops until the latest restrictions are lifted. Pray that everyone can get back to work safely and soon!

Thanksgiving and STARS Family Services

As we consider the goodness of God, we thank God for his faithful provision for STARS Family Services, our residents and families, our faithful staff and board, and people like you who stand with us in prayer and giving. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1 (ESV)